Tray assembly



March 9, 9 E. B. SELIGMANN, JR., ETAL 3,243,049

TRAY ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 23, 1964 INVENTORS. fwmep 5. JfZ/GMAA MJE. 4W/u/AM H. fizzxa 0 BY l? i ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,243,049 TRAY ASSEMBLY Edward B. Seligmann, J12,Frederick, and William H. Berkeley, Silver Spring, Md, assignors to theUnited States of America as represented by the Secretary of theDepartment of Health, Education, and Welfare Filed Sept. 23, 1964, Ser.No. 398,814 12 Claims. (Cl. 211-126) The invention described herein maybe manufactured and used by the Government of the United States ofAmerica for governmental purposes without the payment to applicants ofany royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a tray assembly and relates more particularlyto a direct contact tray assembly for use in shelf-type freeze dryers orthe like.

As conducive to a better understanding of the instant inventive concept,the following background material should be considered. In a freezedryer or other conventional structures of a similar character, there arefrequently provided a plurality of spaced shelves on which samplebottles are to be stored while the contents thereof are subjected tovarious heat-transfer processes. It is conventional to support thearticles to be processed on a tray, particularly when a large number ofarticles such as serum bottles or the like are to be utilized, theentire tray resting on the shelf during treatment. In freeze dryers orthe like, the shelves normally include coils either integral therewithor secured therebeneath for carrying refrigerating or heating fluids. Inorder for eflicient and uniform operation of the dryer or the like, itis important that there be good thermal conductivity from the shelf tothe material being treated. Unduly thick trays used in the past havegreatly reduced the heattransfer whether it be from the shelf to thematerial or vice versa thereby deleteriously affecting the efiiciency ofthe procedure. On the other hand, if the gauge of the metal utilized inthe tray was too thin, warpage has occured rendering uniformity ofresults impossible and frequently causing a complete loss of the samplesbeing processed.

It is obvious that the best arrangement would be to support the articlesdirectly on the shelves rather than interposing a tray therebetween.However, such a procedure is clearly ineflicient particularly when largenumbers of sample bottles or the like must be handled. Also, structuressuch as freeze dryers or the like are frequently subjected to vibrationsfrom compressors, pumps or the similar equipment which have a tendencyto shake the sample bottles and sometimes either tip them over, breakingthe bottles or spilling the contents.

Thus, it can be seen that it would be most helpful if a device wereavailable which could securely carry large numbers of articles to andfrom the shelves of a freeze dryer or the like without necessitating theinterposition of a tray between the articles and the shelf during theprocessing treatment, It is a primary object of this invention toprovide such a device.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a tray assemblywhich is free from all of the foregoing and other disadvantages.

A further object of the instant invention is the provision of a trayassembly comprising a bottomless frame adapted to at least looselysupport articles on the shelf of a freeze dryer or the like to preventundesirable vibration effects, with a removable tray member defining abottom for the frame to facilitate carrying the articles to and from theshelf.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a device ofthe type described wherein the frame is adjustable to support differentsizes and different num- Patented Mar. 29, 1966 bers of articles eithersecurely enough to fixably hold them in position, or loosely enough toallow them to slip slightly after the bottom tray member has beenremoved whereby they may rest directly on the shelf for better thermalconductivity.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a tray assemblywherein the elements forming the same may be of sufliciently heavy gaugeto insure the safe and secure support thereby of the articles to betreated, while precluding the possibility of warpage whereby completeuniformity of results may be realized.

An additional object of this invention is the provision of a trayassembly comprising a bottomless article-supporting frame and a traymember particularly adapted for being slidingly received beneath theframe, including a bevelled leading edge to raise, during the assemblyprocedure, articles such as serum bottles or the like, which have beenresting in direct contact with a shelf for good thermal conductivitythroughout the processing treatment.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a tray assemblywhich is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efiicient inoperation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture,assembly, utilize and maintain.

Other and further objects reside in the combination of elements,arrangement of parts and features of construction.

Still other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed outas the description of the invention proceeds, and as shown in theaccompanying drawing where- FIGURE 1 is an isometric exploded view of atray assembly in accordance with the instant inventive concept;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken substantially online 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan View of a tray assembly in assembledrelationship, a plurality of serum bottles or the like being shownsupported thereby; and

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 ofFIGURE 3.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the severalviews of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing, a tray assembly in accordance with theinstant inventive concept is designated generally by the referencenumeral 10 and comprises basically a bottomless frame 12 and a traymember 14, the frame 12 being adapted to at least steady one or morearticles carried by the tray assembly 10, and the tray member 14 beingslidably receivable beneath the frame 12 to carry the frame and anyarticles supported thereby in a manner and for a purpose to be describedin more detail hereinafter.

The frame 12 includes adjustable supporting means for engaging differentsizes and different numbers of articles and is formed basically of asubstantially rigid U-shaped stationary frame member 16 and a lockingbar 18, movably carried thereby. The stationary frame member 16 includesa pair of oppositely disposed, substantially parallel, legs 20 and aconnecting element 22 extending substantially perpendicularly betweenthe legs 20 at one end of the same. Portions of each leg definelongitudinally extending guideways 24 which slidably receive followermembers in the form of the terminal ends of screw means 26 threadablycarried by right-angular members 28 defined by the end portions of thelocking bar 18 and extending away from the connecting element 22 of thestationary frame member 16 so as not to interfere with the articles 30to be carried thereby in a manner now to be described.

The screw means 26 are preferably manually adjustable and the terminalends of the same are engageable against the portions of the legs 20defining the guideways 24 to secure the locking bar 18 in an adjustedrelationship. The locking bar 13 in cooperation with the stationary traymember 16 together define an adjustable peripheral supporting means forengaging the articles 30 either loosely to merely steady the sameagainst vibrational movement or relatively tightly to clamp the same inposition. If the articles are sample or serum bottles such as shownillustratively at 30, they may be stacked in any desired relationshipbetween the stationary frame member 16 and the clamping bar 18 dependingupon their number and size. As shown, for example, in FIGURE 3, twopartially filled transverse rows of articles 30 may be readily carriedby the frame 12. Alternatively, the articles 30 may be stacked along oneof the legs 20 in an obvious manner (not shown). One or more apertures32 may be defined in th connecting member 22 to facilitate viewing atleast the front row of articles 30 through the connecting members 22. Ifdesired, expanded metal or other similar material may be utilized forthe formation of the connecting member 22.

A pivotally supported -U-shaped handle 34 may be carried by the front ofthe connecting member 22 to facilitate engaging the frame 12 or pullingthe same completely onto the tray member 14 as will be explained in moredetail hereinafter. Similarly, identification means (not shown) in theform of a label or the like may be carried by the connecting member 22adjacent the handle 34.

An offset strengthening flange 36 may also be integrally formed with theconnecting member 22, if desired.

The tray member 14 includes a bottom element 38 dimensioned to extendentirely beneath the frame 12, with upstanding side members 40 carriedby opposite sides of the bottom element 38, and an upstanding frontmember 42 extending between the side members 40 at one end of the bottomelement 38, the side members 49 and the front member 42 closely engagingthe legs 20 and the connecting member 22, respectively, of thestationary frame 16 in the assembled relationship shown particularly inFIGURE 3 to provide a good support for the frame 12. An elongatedopening 44 may be provided in the front member 42 of the tray member 14to facilitate engaging the handle 34 of the frame 12 as seenparticularly in FIGURES 3 and 4 whereby the frame 12 may be pulledcompletely onto the tray member 14 during the assembly procedure. Thisopening 4-4 also serves to facilitate viewing the identification meansmentioned before when the tray is assembled.

The opposite end of the bottom element 38 is bevelled as shown at 46 tofacilitate sliding the tray member 14 beneath the frame 12.

The use and operation of the tray assembly of the instant invention willnow be apparent. T he assembly is formed by sliding the tray member 14beneath the frame 12, insuring a good sealing of the frame on the traymember by pulling the handle 34 through the opening 44. The articles tobe processed are then positioned in any desired manner between thestationary frame member 16 and the locking bar 18, the locking bar beingadjusted by loosening the screw means 26 and sliding the terminal end ofthe same in the guideways 24 until the articles 30 are engaged insuporting relationship. The screw means 26 are then tightened to securethe locking bar in adjusted relationship. The entire assembly 10 is thencarried to the processing apparatus, such as the freeze dryer, andplaced on the shelf. The tray member 14 is then slid from beneath theframe 12 whereby the articles 39, if only loosely supported, may dropdown into direct contact with the shelf for perfect thermalconductivity.

After treatment of the articles, they may be readily removed in a securemanner by sliding the tray member 14 beneath the frame 12, the bevelledend 46 gently lifting the articles 30 if they have been allowed to restdirectly on the shelf and the locking bar 18 precluding tipping of thesame. The articles 30 are then properly supported on the bottom element38 of the tray member 14 for transporting the tray assembly 10 to adesired location.

While the device of the instant invention may be formed of any desiredmaterial, it has been found that stainless steel of a sufficiently heavygauge is particularly adapted to provide the necessary strength whileresisting corrosion which may be caused by steam sterilization orcontact with various chemical materials during the processing treatment.

Likewise, while the device has been illustrated as substantiallyrectangular in form, it will be obvious to those with ordinary skill inthe art that various other shapes may be provided depending upon thestructure in which the assembly is to be utilized.

Further, although the device has been particularly designed for use infreeze dryers, it is well adapted for many other similar processes, suchas direct heating of articles in a shelf-type oven or on a separateplanar heating surface or the like.

It will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved trayassembly which satisfies all of the objects of the instant invention,and others, including many advantages of great practical utility andcommercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of the instant inventive concept, andsince many modifications may be made of the embodiments hereinbeforeshown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is tobe interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Accordingly,

What is claimed is:

1. A tray assembly comprising a bottomless article-sup porting frame anda removable tray member slidably received beneath said frame to carrythe same and any articles supported thereby, said frame including asubstantially rigid stationary frame member, including a pair ofparallel, spaced legs each having two ends and connecting meansextending between said legs at one end of the same, and a locking barhaving oppositely disposed end portions juxtaposed to said legs andmeans slidingly securing said end portions of said locking bar to saidlegs whereby said legs, said connecting means, and said locking bartogether to define an adjustable peripheral supporting means forengaging articles to be carried by said tray assembly.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said frame and said tray member areformed of stainless steel.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said stationary frame member issubstantially U-shaped including a pair of oppositely disposed,substantially parallel, legs each having two ends, and a connectingelement extending substantially perpendicularly between said legs at oneend of the same, said locking bar extending between said legssubstantially parallel to said connecting element and having endportions slidably carried by said legs intermediate the ends of saidlegs.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein each of said legs includes portionsdefining a longitudinally extending guideway, said end portions of saidlocking bar including follower members slida-bly received in saidguideways.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein said end portions of said lockingbar define right-angular members extending away from said connectingmeans of said stationary frame member, said follower members beingcarried by said right-angular members and having terminal ends receivedin said guideways.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein said follower members are screwmeans threadably carried by said rightangular members, said terminalends being securable against said portions of said legs defining saidguideways to secure said locking bar in an adjusted relationship.

7. The structure of claim 1 wherein said connecting means of saidstationary frame member includes portions 5 defining at least oneaperture for viewing therethrough articles supported by said frame.

8. The structure of claim 1 wherein said tray member includes a bottomelement dimensioned to extend entirely beneath said frame, upstandingside members carried by opposite sides of said bottom element andclosely engaging said legs of said stationary frame member in assembledrelationship, and an upstanding front member extending between said sidemembers at one end of said bottom element and closely engaging saidconnecting element of said stationary frame member in assembledrelationship.

9. The structure of claim 8 wherein the other end of said bottom elementis bevelled to facilitate sliding said tray member beneath said frame.

10. The structure of claim 9 further including a handle pivotallysecured to said connecting means of said stationary frame member, saidfront member of said tray member including portions defining an openingdimensioned to receive said handle therethrough.

11. The structure of claim 10 further including identification meanscarried by said connecting means and viewable throu-gh said opening.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 417,640 12/1889Hirsch 2l77 839,253 12/1906 Armstrong 2l77 1,281,943 10/1918 Gonsalves249131 1,688,003 10/1928 Darby 312140.3 1,995,335 3/1935 Wilke 312-1402,937,742 5/ 1960 Michiel 20644.12 3,067,903 12/1962 Jones 220-22 CLAUDEA. LE. ROY, Primary Examiner.

W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner.

12. A TRAY ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A TRAY MEMBER AND A BOTTOMLESSARTICLE-SUPPORTING FRAME SLIDINGLY RECEIVED ON SAID TRAY MEMBER, SAIDFRAME INCLUDING MEANS FOR AT LEAST LOOSELY ENGAGING AT LEAST ONE ARTICLETO SUPPORT THE SAME IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION, AND SAID TRAY MEMBERINCLUDING A BOTTOM PORTION WITH AT LEAST A PARTIALLY UNOBSTRUCTEDPERIPHERAL EDGE DEFINING MEANS FOR SLIDING BENEATH SAID FRAME.